2003 NBA draft


The 2003 NBA draft was held on June 26, 2003, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The NBA announced that 41 college and high school players and a record 31 international players had filed as early-entry candidates for the 2003 NBA draft. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who had a 22.50 percent probability of obtaining the first selection, won the NBA draft lottery on May 22, and Cleveland chairman Gordon Gund said afterward his team would select LeBron James. The Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets were second and third, respectively.
The 2003 draft is known for having one of the most talented draft pools in draft history. The draft contained fifteen players that combined for twenty-six championships. Four of the top five picks are NBA All-Stars and "Redeem Team" Olympic Gold Medalists: Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James. Many players have been in the starting line-ups of their respective teams; nine have participated in an All-Star Game, Dwyane Wade was named NBA Finals MVP in 2006 and won the NBA All Star Game MVP in 2010. Boris Diaw won the Most Improved Player Award in 2006, Jason Kapono won the three point shootout back-to-back years in 2007 and 2008, James Jones won the three point shootout in 2011, Leandro Barbosa won the Sixth Man Award in 2007, Kyle Korver set the NBA record for three point shooting percentage in 2010, and in the 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013 seasons, LeBron James won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, and the NBA Finals MVP in 2012, 2013 and 2016. Carmelo Anthony won the 2013 NBA Scoring Title and is the only player in NBA history to win at least three Olympic gold medals. Zaza Pachulia and David West won NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. Matt Bonner won NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs in 2007 and 2014. Dahntay Jones and Mo Williams won the NBA championship in 2016 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Luke Walton won three NBA championships, two as a player with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010 and one as an assistant coach with the Warriors in 2015. Chris Bosh left Toronto in 2010 as its all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, double doubles, free throws made and attempted, and minutes played. The 2003 draft class has drawn comparisons to the 1984 and 1996 NBA draft classes, but is also known for the Detroit Pistons having made the selection of Darko Miličić with the second pick, over other prospects who went on to have much more success in the league. Out of the entire draft, only Nick Collison has played his entire career for the team that drafted him and also retired his number. As of 2020, the only remaining active players from the 2003 draft class are LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Kyle Korver.

Draft selections

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityTeamSchool/Club Team
11*~SF/PFUnited StatesCleveland CavaliersSt. Vincent–St. Mary HS
12CSerbia and MontenegroDetroit Pistons Hemofarm Vršac
13*SF/PFUnited StatesDenver NuggetsSyracuse
14*PF/CUnited StatesToronto RaptorsGeorgia Tech
15*SGUnited StatesMiami HeatMarquette
16+CGermanyLos Angeles ClippersCentral Michigan
17PGUnited StatesChicago BullsKansas
18PGUnited StatesMilwaukee Bucks Texas
19PFUnited StatesNew York KnicksGeorgetown
110F/GWashington WizardsGeorgia
111G/FFranceGolden State WarriorsPau-Orthez
112PFUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonicsKansas
113PGUnited StatesMemphis Grizzlies UNLV
114PGUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonics Oregon
115F/GUnited StatesOrlando MagicLouisville
116PGUnited StatesBoston Celtics Boston College
117SFPhoenix SunsBudućnost Podgorica
118+PFUnited StatesNew Orleans HornetsXavier
119F/GUtah JazzBudućnost Podgorica
120SGUnited StatesBoston Celtics Duke
121PFFranceAtlanta Hawks Pau-Orthez
122G/FNew Jersey NetsCibona Zagreb
123SFUnited StatesPortland Trail BlazersStarkville HS
124PFUnited StatesLos Angeles LakersIllinois
125SGDetroit PistonsSkipper Bologna
126SFUnited Kingdom
Minnesota TimberwolvesWestbury Christian HS
127CUnited StatesMemphis Grizzlies Ozen HS
128SGBrazilSan Antonio Spurs Bauru Tilibra
129+F/GUnited StatesDallas MavericksWake Forest
230PFPolandNew York Knicks Complutense University of Madrid
231F/GUnited StatesCleveland CavaliersUCLA
232SFUnited StatesLos Angeles Lakers Arizona
233PFUnited StatesMiami HeatNorth Dakota
234#CLos Angeles ClippersIraklis BC
235#PFPolandMilwaukee Bucks Braunschweig
236#PFUnited StatesChicago BullsMississippi State
237SGUnited StatesAtlanta HawksBYU
238PGUnited StatesWashington WizardsMaryland
239CNew York KnicksBudućnost Podgorica
240PGUnited StatesGolden State WarriorsMississippi State
241SGUnited StatesSeattle SuperSonics Detroit
242PFOrlando MagicÜlkerspor
243SGUnited StatesMilwaukee Bucks Kentucky
244#PFHouston RocketsLangen
245FUnited StatesChicago Bulls Florida
246#SGDenver Nuggets Virtus Bologna
247+PGUnited StatesUtah JazzAlabama
248CUnited StatesNew Orleans HornetsCentral Park Christian HS
249SFUnited StatesIndiana PacersMiami
250#PGFrancePhiladelphia 76ers Dijon
251+SGUnited StatesNew Jersey Nets Creighton
252CNetherlandsToronto Raptors FC Barcelona
253#PFUnited StatesChicago Bulls Arizona State
254#CPortland Trail BlazersBrotnjo
255#PFUnited StatesMinnesota TimberwolvesMinnesota
256PFUnited StatesBoston Celtics Ohio
257#CChinaDallas Mavericks Hong Kong Flying Dragons
258CDetroit Pistons AEK

Notable undrafted players

These players were not selected in the 2003 NBA draft, but have played at least one game in the NBA.
PlayerPositionNationalitySchool/club team
CUnited StatesMemphis
PGTau Cerámica
SGUnited StatesNotre Dame
SGUnited StatesAuburn
SFUnited StatesLSU
SF/PFUnited StatesUtah
SG/SFNew ZealandWisconsin
PFUnited StatesNC State
SFUnited StatesTexas Tech
SGUnited StatesSMU
SF/PFUnited StatesMurray State

Draft Lottery